
"Now we are delivered from the
law, that being dead wherein we were
held; that we should serve in newness
of spirit, and not in the oldness of the
letter" (Rom. 7:6).
Perhaps over few chapters of the
Bible have there been more
differences of opinion than over
Romans 7. Concerning the issues
involved, the
S.D.A. Bible
Commentary
says: "The meaning of
vs. 14-25 has been one of the most
discussed problems in the whole
epistle. The main questions have been
as to whether the description of such
intense moral struggle could be
autobiographical, and, if so, whether
the passage refers to Paul's experience
before or after his conversion. That
Paul is speaking of his own personal
struggle with sin seems apparent from
the simplest meaning of his words (cf.
vs. 7-11; SC 19; 3T475). It is surely also
true that he is describing a conflict that
is more or less experienced by every
soul confronted by and awakened to
the spiritual claims of God's holy law.
"More important is the question as
to which period in his experience Paul
is depicting. Some commentators
hold that the description is of Paul's
current experience as a converted
Christian. . . . Other commentators
believe that the struggle must have
been before his conversion."—S.D.A.
Bible Commentary,
vol. 6, p. 554.
We shall allow the student of these
Sabbath School lessons to draw his
own conclusions. Doubtless not all in
any
one class will see Romans 7 exactly
alike. We do not regard this a serious
matter. Let the Holy Spirit impress
each student with the lesson He
wishes that student to draw.
Notice how Ellen White applies a
portion of Romans 7 contextually: "It
is not enough to perceive the
loving-kindness of God, to see the
benevolence, the fatherly tenderness,
of His character. It is not enough to
discern the wisdom and justice of His
law, to see that it is founded upon the
eternal principle of love. Paul the
apostle saw all this when he
exclaimed, 'I consent unto the law that
it is good.' The law is holy, and the
commandment holy, and just, and
good.' But he added, in the bitterness
of his soul-anguish and despair, 'I am
carnal, sold under sin.' Romans 7:16,
12, 14. He longed for the purity, the
righteousness to which in himself he
was powerless to attain, and cried out,
'0 wretched man that I am! who shall
deliver me from this body of death?'
Romans 7:24, margin."—Steps
to
Christ,
p. 19.
It is also important to observe that a
person does not go from conversion
and justification to immediate and
mature victory. There is a period of
growth. Victory comes as a person
senses his nothingness and that
without Christ he can do nothing.
The following statement from Ellen
White is significant: "So will it be with
all who behold Christ. The nearer we
come to Jesus, and the more clearly we
discern the purity of His character, the
more clearly shall we see the
exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the
less shall we feel like exalting
ourselves. There will be a continual
reaching out of the soul after God, a
continual, earnest, heartbreaking
confession of sin and humbling of the
heart before Him. At every advance
step in our Christian experience our
repentance will deepen. We shall
know that our sufficiency is in Christ
alone and shall make the apostle's
confession our own: 'I know that in
me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no
good thing.' Romans 7: 18."—TheActs
of the Apostles,
p. 561.
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS
1.
Delivered From the Law
(Rom. 7:6)
2.
Illustration From Marriage
(Rom. 7:1, 2)
3.
Law's Function
(Rom: 7:7)
4.
Law Exalted
(Rom. 7:12)
5.
Slavery to Sin
(Rom. 7:16, 17)
6.
Wretchedness of Enslavement
(Rom. 7:24)